Water-treading apparatus



July 31, 1923.

H. MEYER WATER TREADING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3;, 1923. 1,463,330

H. MEYER WATER TREADING APIQARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a it I Hill I In.

IN V EN TOR BYfid ATTORNEY T all whom it may concern:

Patented July 31 1923.

I HENRY MEYER, or nnraorr, ivr'rcnroAn.

wA'rnn-ranAnINo Ar ur-menus,

Application filed. September 26, 1922: SeriaINo. 590,569.

, abling a person to travel with safety and without immersion in the water.

Another purpose is to produce a (1617106 that can .be collapsedand folded into a small compass when not required for use, permitting it to be easily earned or stored.

A further aim is in the provision of a simple, cheap and effective apparatus, which can be easily attached and operated without dificulty to a shoe or even used as an element in a pontoon bridge.

These objects are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one of a pair of like water treading apparatus as made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure'2, drawn to an enlarged scale. 7 Figure 4 1s a snnllar sectional view taken on line l4 of F1gure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view showing the jointed frame support for the buoy- I ant elements. These devloes, whlchare to be used 1n pairs, one for each foot, are each composed of two oppositely extending, conical elements 10 comprised of a series of hollow flexible, aocordlon-like elements 11 gradu ally reduced in diameter outwardly from their bases and held in circular form by internal rib-like rings, as at 12'.

The adjacent or base elements of the series'are attached by cords 13 toa substantially rectangular central frame 14: having rounded corners, onthe upper sideof which are flat horizontal plates 15 servingas foot rests and carrying loops 16 adapted to engage the shoes of an operator.

tion they are to perform. 1 I

Having thus described my invention and This frame 14 is also hollow and prowas.

videdwith valves 17 to admit air whenthe buoys are extended, for inflation and. also arranged to deflate the same when not required for use, thus permitting collapsing into a relatively small parcel.

In order to stiffen the construction when 2 extended, a plurality of brackets 18 are attached at intervals tothe opposite sides of the buoy elements, these brackets carrying the inner ends of links 19 engaging clips 20 which in turn are engageable with bars or rails 21 made ;1n short sections and joined at their ends by pivot connections'22 de signed to permit folding in' one direction but resisting fleXure 1n the other.

The outer or end buoy elements 23 and 24, respectively front and rear, present semi spherical surfaces, and the rear elements are provided with bands 25 the same being the terminus of the side rails 21. I

Also to the face of the rear elements 24 are attached rudder-like projections 26to assist in maintaining a straight course throughthe water in which the devices are partially submerged, the depth to which they enter depending on the area exposed and weight of the individual using the same.

It is to be-understood that the buoyant elements are water tight and may be preferably made of fabric that will resist the entrance of water, the'size and proportions of the several parts being suited set forththe manner of its construction, ap

to the funcplication' and use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 5+ 1. A water treading apparatus comprising, a central hollow frame, footholds carried thereby, a plurality of buoyant elements attached to the ends of said frame,

said buoyant elements decreasing progressively in diameter from the frame ut wa'rdly', means controlling the admission of air to said buoyant elements, sectional rails engaging the opposltesides of said elements, means atythe. oint of sa1d ralls permitting breaking in one direction'and holding rigidly in other. directions, and means for de tachably engaging the adjacent sections of saidelements to said frame.

2. A watertreading"apparatus comprising' a central hollow frame substantially rectangular incross section, a foot board 011 one side of the frame, foot engaging means on said board, oppositely extending buoyant members removably engaging the ends of said frame, said buoyant members consisting of a series of collapsible elements open throughout, caps at the ends of said members, a rudder attached to one of said caps, sectional rails engaging at intervals With said members, means formed with the joints of said rails permitting turning in one direction only, and means in said frame for admitting air to said buoyant members.

In Witness whereof I have afifixed my signature.

HENRY MEYER, 

